Barring an injury during practice in August, there won't be a quarterback controversy in 2007 for AU. The Tigers will rely on a fifth-year senior to stay healthy and lead an offense that includes a group of talented receivers for the upcoming season.

For the third straight year, Auburn will have the same familiar face start under center. Experience at the quarterback position for any team is a dream come true, especially in a conference like the Southeastern Conference. While experience is important, a quarterback who stays healthy during the grueling 12-game schedule will have a better shot of helping his team have a successful season. Even though the Tigers went 11-2 in 2006, including a 17-14 Cotton Bowl win over Nebraska, Brandon Cox wasn't 100 percent during most of the season after suffering an injury to his leg in the third game against LSU. The pain wasn't severe enough to sideline the 23-year-old, but with his leg wrapped in a heavy bandage, his movement was restricted and the passes that were thrown, weren't as crisp. Cox and others thought the two embarrassing losses at home to Arkansas and Georgia could have been different with a completely healthy quarterback. Brandon Cox looks to stay healthy throughout the upcoming season. (Photo courtesy of autigers.com) The two blowout losses, including his dismal performance in the Georgia game where he only completed 4-of-12 passes for 35 yards and threw four interceptions, were still fresh on Cox's mind when spring practice began back in February. Cox had an outstanding spring and an even better A-Day game where he threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Blue team to a 27-7 victory over the White team. Cox is determined to stay healthy for the entire 2007 season and looks forward to the season opener against Kansas State so he can improve on his numbers from a year ago that saw him throw nine interceptions and average just 169 yards per game, the seventh-best total among SEC starters. As a two-year starter, he has led Auburn to a 19-5 record. If he avoids the injury bug and has a big year, his record as a starter will be among the best in Auburn's history at the quarterback position. The real battle during spring drills was for the backup spot at quarterback. With no real clear winner, a backup will be named when preseason practice ends in late August. But, don't count on the name penciled in at the No. 2 spot to be the same throughout the season. Junior Blake Field has been the backup to Cox for the past two seasons. With heavy competition from redshirt freshmen Neil Caudle and Steven Ensminger, Field will have to stay consistent and improve on the mental aspect of his game to stay behind Cox on the depth chart. Caudle has a slight edge over Ensminger since he stayed healthy during the fall last year. True freshman Kodi Burns was highly recruited out of Arkansas and may surprise everyone by earning playing time once he learns the offensive system in preseason practice. In the fall, Auburn will have one of the deepest receiving corps in the SEC. Junior flanker Rod Smith is the leader of the group and will also be the go-to guy after last year's star Courtney Taylor was drafted by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. Rod Smith should rack up big numbers as Auburn's top receiver. (Photo courtesy of autigers.com) Smith was named the most improved player by the coaching staff after leading all other receivers in the scrimmages with 14 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns in spring practice. Smith started all 13 games last year and caught 26 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns. Behind Smith is redshirt freshman Tim Hawthorne. Hawthorne missed much of spring drills after being in a one-car accident that took the life of a close friend. He'll have a lot of work to do in August to make up for the time that he missed during spring drills to have a chance of seeing playing time once the season starts. Senior Prechae Rodriguez will start at split end, Taylor's old position. Rodriguez hasn't lived up to his potential since coming to Auburn from junior college in 2005. If Rodriguez fails to improve on his numbers from a year ago, he could lose his starting job at split end to sophomore Montez Billings. Billings had a solid spring which he hopes will earn him playing time in the fall. Junior Robert Dunn will be the starter at the slot position. Dunn will have to hold off stiff competition from redshirt freshman Terrell Zachery if he wants to remain the starter. With a healthy quarterback and plenty of talented receivers for him to get the ball to, Auburn should see an improvement in its offensive numbers from last season. With games at Florida, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia, the Tigers will have to play at the very top of their game just to be lucky enough to win one of the four away games. The remaining schedule has eight home games including the season-opener Sept. 1 against Kansas State. When all is said and done, look for Auburn to finish the regular season with nine wins. Phil Marion Coming next week: A look at Auburn's loaded backfield which includes Carl Stewart as the starter at fullback.